Gabriella was running late for her last class of the day: gym. Today they were playing tennis. She wasn't looking forward to it was nice to get outside. When she entered the locker room, Megan and Elizabeth were waiting for her.
"Gabi, what took you so long?" Megan asked as Elizabeth watched.
"It's so crowded in the hallways. On top of all the extra people, the girls are stopping in the hallway trying to get the guys attention. It's a mess out there. I had to come from the 4th floor on the east side. Could you imagine?!" Gabriella said as she changed quickly.
"Well, you're here now and I heard some interesting news." Elizabeth said with a smile. Gabriella became suspicious.
"What?"
"Troy's locker is next to yours?" It sounded like a question but Gabriella knew it was more of a statement.
"Yeah, it is. I meant him this morning, actually. He's nice, I guess." Gabriella said offhandedly.
Elizabeth had a look on her face that worried her. She had a feeling there was going to be a lot of drama coming her way.
"Taylor, I think Elizabeth is going to kill me." Gabriella said as they walked towards the park after school.
Taylor laughed and said, "What would be the reason?"
"Troy Bolton." Gabriella said with an eye roll. Taylor stared as she waited for more information. "Well, he has the locker next to mine and she found out without me telling her. Honestly, I wasn't thinking about it."
"Well, watch your back. You know how she is." Taylor warned. Gabriella nodded and they picked a spot under a tree close to the lake. "Nevermind…"
Gabriella followed Taylor's gaze and noticed Troy walking with a group of his friends. She groaned and tried to converse casually with Taylor so he wouldn't notice her. It didn't work. She noticed him telling his friends he would catch up and jogged over to them.
"Hey, neighbor." He said with a smile. Gabriella gave a heavy sigh.
"Hi, Troy. This is my friend, Taylor." Gabriella said. He smiled at her then sat down next to Gabriella.
"So, how was studying?"
"It was…informative…" She said then began laughing when she realized how silly that may have sounded. He smiled at her then said, "You seem pretty smart. I've heard a lot about you today."
"Really?" Gabriella said surprised. She didn't realize anyone recognized her for academic achievements.
"Yep…" Troy said.
"And we've heard a lot about you." Taylor interjected.
"Gabriella told me the same thing this morning. I'd like to know what those things were." Troy said with a hopeful smile.
"Uh, nope." Gabriella said. She stood up and helped Taylor up. "Bye, Troy."
"Fine, Gabriella. I'll get you to talk to me!" He called after her. She shook her head.
"Troy's into you." Taylor said. She was clearly amused. Gabriella blushed and replied, "If it's true I'm going to put an end to it."
"Before Elizabeth puts an end to you?" Taylor asked.
The next morning, Gabriella arrived early to school to organize her locker and place books in certain classroom to save her time. As she walked up to her locker she groaned loudly at the sight next to her locker.
"Troy, are you stalking me?" She asked as she unlocked her locker.
He gave her a fake smile and replied, "No, Gabriella, I'm here for tutoring. I need to get my grades up for chem or my dad won't let me try out for basketball."
"That sucks…" She said. He was sitting on the floor reading his chemistry textbook. "Um, not to be all in your business but shouldn't someone be tutoring you."
"That's what I thought but I'm assuming someone had a hard time getting up." Troy said. "Such a waste of time coming here."
She didn't know what came over her but she sat down next to him and took the book away. "I could help you…"
Troy looked surprised and then nodded.
"How are you already doing so badly? Classes only started two weeks ago." Gabriella said as she flipped through the pages making notes on a separate page.
"I have a habit of cutting." Troy said with a laugh. She shook her head but smirked at him.
"I cut sometimes, too." She admitted. "I mean, I actually love school but my friends they like to cut. Once in awhile I tag along but I feel so guilty."
"Taylor doesn't look like the type to cut." Troy said as he stared at her notes.
"Not Taylor…never! I'm talking about my friends Morgan, Quinn, and Elizabeth aka Lizzie aka Liz." Gabriella said. Troy looked up.
"You're friends with them?" He asked extremely shocked.
"Yeah…that's everyone's reaction."
"I dated- well, I wouldn't even call it that. I hung out with Liz a couple times. She was cool but not my type. Too much attitude and truthfully…too bitchy. It was a cool summer fling but I'm trying to let it die down." Troy admitted. "I'm surprised I haven't met you before."
"I'm not surprised about that. Elizabeth doesn't introduce me to guys she dates. I just didn't know that Megan had met you."
"Yeah, we've all hung out during the summer with some of my friends. Those girls are wild." Troy said with a laugh. Gabriella felt her face growing hot. She was used to being excluded but she didn't like being lied to. "What's wrong?"
"I'm really offended." Gabriella said. "They all hung out with you guys this summer and no one told me. I feel like the biggest loser." She shook her head and looked at him.
"Elizabeth is clearly jealous of you. You basically said it yourself. That's why she doesn't let you meet guys she dates. You're a threat. I would suggest you stay away from them." Troy said.
"Taylor tells me the same thing all the time."
"You should listen to her BUT onto lighter topics…wanna get lunch with me today? I mean Taylor, too. I can bring some of my friends." Troy offered nervously.
Gabriella bit her lip and quickly thought it over. There's nothing wrong with going to get lunch. It's friendly, she thought.
"Yeah, we can do that." Gabriella said with a smile.
"Told you I'd get you to talk to me." Troy said with a laugh. She rolled her eyes and playfully pushed him.
"Shut up."
DURING CHEMISTRY, Gabriella couldn't hold in her excitement. She nudged Taylor and mouthed, Where are you going for lunch?
Taylor shrugged. Gabriella smiled and wrote her a note explaining the plans. Taylor's mouth dropped in shock. She grabbed Gabriella's arm and squeezed. She mouthed 'Chad'.
"Maybe," Gabriella whispered. They smiled at each other and when the bell rang both girls bolted out the classroom. Unfortunately, they bumped into Quinn.
"Gabriella, watch it!" Quinn said as she shook her head. "What's the rush?"
Gabriella didn't want to lie because she knew it would come back to bite her in the butt. She tucked hair behind her ear and said, "Taylor and I are going to eat. We're starving."
"Oh, man, could you wait one period to leave? That's when the rest of us get out." Quinn pleaded.
Gabriella remembered what Troy told her in the morning and flatly replied, "No."
Taylor led her away and once they reached the stairwell, they hurried down towards the front foyer.
